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Easy Orange Rolls in Half the Time
Author: Melissa Howell
Ingredients
Dough
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 Tbsp. butter cut into chunks
  • 3 1/2-3 3/4 cups flour divided
  • 1 package yeast 2 1/4 tsp.
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 egg
Filling
  • 1/2 cup butter one cube, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. orange zest
Glaze
  • 1/4 cup butter half a cube
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tbsp. orange juice or more to reach desired consistency
Instructions
For the dough
  1. Mix the yeast and 1/4 cup warm water and allow the yeast to proof. Make sure the water is not too hot, or it will kill the yeast.
  2. Put the butter and milk into a microwave-safe bowl and heat one minute and thirty seconds on high. Butter should be mostly melted.
  3. Mix together 2 cups of the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer, add the ingredients to the mixer bowl.
  4. When the milk mixture has cooled slightly, add it to the mixer bowl and mix well with the paddle attachment.
  5. Add the egg and mix well.
  6. Pour in your yeast and water mixture and mix again.
  7. Switch to the dough hook (if using a mixer) and add remaining flour in increments until dough leaves the side of the bowl. It should be very soft and slightly sticky. When you put your finger in it, it should pull a little, but not totally stick to your finger and stretch out.
  8. Continue to knead the dough with the dough hook (or by hand) for about five minutes. Allow to rest while you make the filling.
Filling
  1. Combine the softened butter, 1/2 cup of sugar, and orange zest in a small bowl. Mix well.
For the rolls
  1. Roll dough on clean countertop or large cutting board to about 12x16 inches. Spread filling on top of dough, leaving the far edge bare so dough will stick together after rolling.
  2. Start rolling the dough from the long edge and roll to the other edge.
  3. Get an 18-inch piece of sewing thread. Slip the thread under the edge of the dough, cross it over the top, and pull the string until it completely cuts through the dough. Repeat until you have cut all the rolls.
  4. Place rolls in a greased 9x13 inch pan.
  5. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until rolls have visibly increased in size.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  7. Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes, or until light golden brown.
For the glaze
  1. Melt butter on the stove or in the microwave. Add the powdered sugar and orange juice to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over warm rolls.